Bottle from Hasegawa. Chocolate and caramel nose, some soy, raisins, licorice, chewy fudge. Not at all burnt. Black with a low, persistent head. Medium sweetness, low roast, chewy malts, light minerals, slightly fruity with orange. More like a porter, as it isn’t all that burnt. Tasty though, rich malt without being cloying. Pretty good, though not surprising or original.

Bottle picked up directly from the brewery in Numazu for 450 yen. Served in a pint glass, A nice looking dark cola looking pour with beige head that quickly vanished leaving behind little to no lacing. The aroma is one of cocoa powder & chocolate. The taste is nutty, roasty, toasted coffee beans & chocolate but the body is medium to thin for the style with a bit too much effervescence. Not bad. Probably the best of the 3 beers I picked up, alas they were out of their Pale Ale.